Fastener making machine



Aug. 11, 1931. H LAMB 1,817,990

FASTENER MAKING MACHINE IN VEN TOR.- Harold I am vBY A TTORNEY;

Aug. 11, 1931. H. LAMB 1517,99()

Filed Dec.A 2l, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented ulg. 11, 193i NITE!) STATES PATENT OFFiCE HOLD LAMB, F MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 HOOKLESS FASTENER COMPANY, `.A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA FASTENER MAKING MACHINE Application led December 21, 1929. .Serial No. 415,730..

My invention relates to a method and machine for makin fastener elements and particularly to ma ing fastener elements for slide fasteners of the same general type as disclosed in the patent to Gideon Sundback No. 1,219,881, March 20, 1917.

It is the general object of my invention to provide an improved method and machine for making the fastener elements so that a much smoother fastener is produced than has heretofore been done.

A. machine of the same general type as disclosed in the patent to Gideon Sundback No..

1,467,015, September 4, 19,23, has been used w successfully for making stringere for slide fasteners. In the patented machine a wire of special cross-section is fed upwardly from the under side of a platform and blanks are sliced off from the upper end of this wire as it is intermittently fed through a cutting die.

These blanks are in turn placed in a recessed formin die and a vertically reciprocating 'punch 1s operated downwardly to press a blank which has been sliced ofi' into the recessed die to form the interlocking projection and recess. During the slicing operation a small burr is sometimes left on the front side of the wire after the blank has been sliced 0E and this is particularly true when the outing dies become slightly worn. When the wire is next fed upwardly this burr is found on the next blank to be sliced olf and the blank is thus laced in the recessed die with the burr on t e upper or outer side of thedie. The burr being at this point, is not always completely absorbed during the operation of punching the blanks into the recessed die to form the interlocking projection. I have discovered that'by feeding thefwire into the machine from above the platform and placin the stationary cutting die above the mova le cutti knife that this burr is left on the lower si e of the fastener blank andwhen the blank is placed in theA recessed die the burr will come againstthe'tlat forming surface of the die and be absorbed in theoperation of formingl the interlocking projection.

The fastener making machine of the type to which my invention relates comprises a series of related mechanisms and since my in- .vcntion is concerned with only a portion of such mechanisms, the machine will not be` in conjunction with the forming die in which the blankis resting, the interlocking recess and projection of the fastener element. Mechanism is also provided for feeding the tape intermittently between the clamping,

portions of the fastener element and side tools are reciprocated at the proper time to clamp the fastener element to the Stringer.

In the accompanying drawings, I have .shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 -is a vertical sectional view throughV a portion of a fastener making machine embodying my invention.

d'. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the cutting ies.

Fig. 3 is a. vertical section corresponding to a section on line 3*?) of Fig. 2 illustrating the old method of feeding and cutting 0E the wire which my invention is designed to improve.

Fig. 4 is a view of thefastener element while being formedv in the forming die when the blanks are fed and sliced off as in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 showing the difference in die arrangement required to carry out my invention.

Fig. 6-is a View of the fastener element in the forming die when the blanks are fed and sliced off as shownin Fig. 5.

In the portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1 there appears a\part of the stationary base frame 10 which carries a suitable stationary table or platform 11. A shaft 12 is rotatably supported in the base frame and is driven at the desired speed by a suitable motor and gearing not illustrated. 0n this shaft is an eccentric 13 which operates a connecting rod 14 connected to a reciprocating mechanism generally' designated 15. rlhe principal part of this mechanism is a slid 16 which'reciprocates horizontally in suitable guides carried by the table 11. This slide is adjustable relative to the connecting rod 14 by means of suitable mechanism including an adjusting screw 17. At the front end of this slide is adjustably mounted the knife carrier 18, which may be adjusted lengthwise of the slide by an adjusting screw 19. A knife 20 is connected by means of a screw 21 to this knife carrier and the thickness of the knife is comparatively small, being the The front end of the knife is supported during motion by a stationary support 22 which carries a guide plate 23. is mounted above the knife instead of below it as heretofore and the wire 25 is fed downwardly through the knife die.

The frame is extended upwardly to provide a stationary support 26 which carries the wire feeding mechanism. Instead of locating the feeding mechanism below the knife die as disclosed in the above mentioned patent, it is desirable in carrying out my invention to locate it directly above the knife die. This mechanism comprises a pair of rollers 27 and 28 which are suitably grooved to fit the wire and which are held in frictional engagement with the wire by means of a spring 29 which is adjustable by a screw 30. The feed rollers are driven from the shaft 12 by an eccentric 31 and connecting rod 32 which operate a pawl mechanism 33 pivotally mounted on the shaft 34 which carries the feed roller 28. A ratchet wheel 35 is mounted on the same shaft 34 and has teeth spaced around its periphery to cooperate with the pawl 33. The eccentric 31 is so positioned as to affect an actuation of the feed rolls at the proper time while the knife is withdrawn from the knife die. The ratchet wheel is so driven as to feed the wire just the right amount to provide the desired thickness'of the fastener blank. After the wire passes through the feed rolls it is received by a suitable guide 36 which extends to a point closely adjacent the cutting die.

The rotating dial 37 is supported on a vertical shaft 38 which is operated by means of a ratchet and pawl mechanism 39 which may be driven from the shaft 12 or any other suitable means as described in the above mentioned patent. A brake mechanism 40 prevents rotation of the shaft 38 beyondv the points to which it is actuated by the ratchet mechanism 39. A hand wheel 41a is provided on the end of this shaft to adjust the dial same as that desired in the fastener blank.

The cutting die 24 manually. The dial 37 carries a series of forming dies 41 equally spaced around its periphery and thesedies are progressively brought into alinement with the knife 2O to receive the fastener blanks in turn. Immediately after a blank is received in one of the dies 41 a punch 42 is depressed to form the interlocking recess on the fastener element is being understood that metal is displaced from the blank into the forming die at the same time to form the interlocking projection on the fastener element. The punch is carried by a punchholder 43 which reciprocates in a stationary guide 44 and the punch is preferably` depressed by a hammer mechanism 45 which is operated in a manner similar to that described in connection with the punch mechanism of the above mentioned patent.

The contour of the knife 2O is best illustrated in Fig. 2 and comprises a V-shaped nose port-ion 46 adapted to enter the space between the clamping portions 47 and 48 of the fastener' blank. r)The knife is also recessed as indicated at 49 and 50 to receive the ends of the fastener blank. Theknife die and wire guide are also shaped in crosssection so as to conform to the shape of the wire from which the blanks are made.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 which illustrate the old Amethod of making the fastener element, the wire 25 is fed upwardly through a knife die 51 positioned directly under the knife 20. After continued use, the corner 52 of the knife die becomes slightly rounded and after each movement of the knife 20 a small burr 53 is sometimes left on the advancing end of the wire. As the blank 54 which has been sheared off, moves into the forming die 41 this burr 53 is positioned at the outer edge of the forming die and when the punch 42 is depressed to form the interlocking recess 55 and projection 56,

`the burr 53 remains on the blank without bein absorbed wholly into the metal during the orming operation.

Now with my improved machine and method of feeding the wire and shearing olf the blanks as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 the burr 53 on the advancing end of the wire is disposed on that side of the blank which forms the projection when the blank is in' the forming die. This is due tothe fact that the knife die 24 is located above the knife and instead of feeding the wire upwardly it is fed downwardly. In Fig. 6 it will be noted that when the blank 54 moved into the forming die, the burr came intovcontact with the flat surface 57 of the die and was necessarily absorbed in the metal during the forming operation. The edge 58 of the fastener element is thus left free from any bur-rs.

As a result of my invention it will, therefore, be' seen thata very simple modification of a standard fastener making machine is terasse all that is required to insure the production of a smooth fastener. rIhis is a very desirable result particularly when it is considered that the fastener is frequently applied to such articles as ladies handbags where any l sharp edges adjacent the opening through which the hand must be inserted, is very objectionable.

lVhile I have in this application, specifically shown and described one embodiment of my invention and have shown it incorporated in one type of fastener making machine, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in various other forms and be used with other types of machines than the one shown.

I claim:

l. A method of forminga fastener element comprising feeding a wire of special cross-section, slicing a blank from the end of said Wire and leaving a burr on such blank, placing the blank in a forming die with the burr against a forming surface of the die, and pressing said blank into said die to form an interlocking projection and simultaneously absorb said burr.

2. In a machine for forming fastener elements, means for feeding a wire of special cross-section, means for slicing blanks from the end of said wire, a recessed forming die for receiving said blanks in turn, and a punch mechanism cooperating with said recessed die to form an interlocking projection, and recess on each of said blanks, the direction of feed of said Wire being the same as the direction of movement of said punch in forming the projection.

3. In a machine for forming fastener ele ments, means for feeding a. wire of special cross-section, means for slicing a blank from the end of said wire, a recessed die adjacent said slicing means for receiving the blank, the recess of said die facing in the direction opposite to the direct-ionof feed of said wire, and a punch cooperating with said die to form an interlocking projection and recess.

4c. In a machine for forming fastener elements, a stationary cutting die, means for feeding a wire of special crosssection downwardly from the upper side of said cutting die, a cutting knife cooperating with said cutting die for slicing blanks from the end of said Wire, a forming die with an upwardly facing recess for receiving 'said blank, and a. vertically reciprocating punch adapted when depressed to press said blank into the die and form an interlocking projection.

5. The method of forming fastener clements of agenerally elongated block-like shape each having a pair of clamping jaws at one end and interlocking means at the other or head end comprising shearing substantially Y-shaped flat metal blanks, placing such blanks individually in dies in such a manner that a burr formed during shearing on one corner o? the head end of each elei: zent will lie against relatively broad flat surface of said die, and pressing said blank in said die whereby said burr is absorbed by said flat surface of the die.

6. The method of forming fastener elements of the type having clamping jaws at one end and interlocln'ng projections and recesses on opposite sides at the other or head ends of the elements, and an inclined guiding surface at the head end of each element coextensive with the projection which comprises shearing substantially fiat U-shaped blanks from a strip, placing the head end of each blank in a die for forming the interlocking projection and inclined surface in such relative position that any burr which maybe formed on. one corner of the head end of the blank during shearing will lie 'against said inclined flat surface, and punching out an interlocking recess and simultaneously pressing the head end of said blank into said die to form said projection and guiding face whereby the burrs are iat'tened out by the inclined face of said die.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HAR-@LD LAR 

